Spain and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation activities to support capacity-building activities in English and Spanish-speaking countries. These activities will support implementation of IMO regulations, raise awareness of IMO’s mandate and contribute to sustainable maritime transport and the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The MoU covers a wide range of technical cooperation areas, including: search and rescue; maritime training and the human element; passenger ship safety; maritime communications and navigation; fishing vessel safety; port reception facilities; casualty investigation; air pollution reduction; oil and chemical pollution response; maritime legislation; maritime single window; liability and compensation regime.; flag, port and coastal State jurisdiction; framework and Procedures for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme; and national maritime transport policies.
The MoU was signed by Benito Nuñez Quintanilla, the Director-General for Merchant Marine, and IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, during the Torremolinos Ministerial Conference on Safety of Fishing Vessels and Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing (21-23 October). The MoU replaces and updates a previous one signed in 2009.